Nadezda Pavlova stole the show when Bolshoi Ballet came to New Delhi

Spotless complexion, tiny diamond studs in her ears, petite Nadezda Pavlova, 21, stole the show when the Bolshoi Ballet came to New Delhi.

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india today digital

May 17, 2014

ISSUE DATE: December 31, 1977

UPDATED: April 6, 2015 15:02 IST

Henderson - the difference between two Gandhis.

If there were any gains of the infamous Emergency the book publishers are now reaping it. The seemingly unendless tales of the Emergency being poured out for the Indian readers have been recently added to by the release of Experiments with Untruth, by British journalist and author Michael Henderson, 45. "I don't write with any sense of superiority," Henderson remarked defensively, claiming that his book is different from the usual quickies on Mrs Gandhi's regime. "It's an attempt to portray hidden facts." Comparing the title of his book to Mahatma Gandhi's My Experiments with Truth, Henderson said: "In many ways, the Emergency was opposite to what the Mahatma stood for. The Emergency has been an unsuccessful experiment with untruth. I bring together what Y.B. Chavan was saying in San Francisco, V.C. Shukla in London, and Om Mehta in Sydney."

Gordeev (left) and Pavlova - shelvin questions for the dance master to answer

Spotless complexion, tiny diamond studs in her ears, petite Nadezda Pavlova, 21, stole the show when the Bolshoi Ballet came to New Delhi. Looking adoringly at her husband and co-dancer Vyacheslav Gordeev, 28, she let him answer all the questions. Barring the fact that all the questions had first to be interpreted by the mediator, the answers were no answers at all. With hawklike supervision in case another Rudolf Nureyev ran away, it was difficult to carry on an interview. They had performed in many parts of Europe and USA as well, but where did they find the audience most responsive? "Everywhere. To name a country would mean putting the others in disgrace." The recent expedition of Bhartiya Kala Kendra that visited the USSR was their first experience of Indian dance, after of course what they had seen in Indian films - mostly Raj Kapoor's efforts. Asked what he thought about them, Gordeev said: "Our life has started rolling at a much faster pace now, and I prefer films which have some social significance." Was there any scope for improvising? "An artist is an executioner, and just carries out whatever the ballet master wants. In a couple of years he becomes a ballet master himself, so he has a chance of doing some choreography," said Gordeev. Did he plan to spend the rest of his life as a dancer? Gordeev said that he was studying journalism along with his dance, "but nothing is decided yet." The whole conversation was interspersed with Pavlova bursting into laughter every few seconds. It all came to an abrupt halt when the dance master joined the group at which point Gordeev hastily said: "Anymore personal questions about us? Because the rest will be answered by the dance master himself."

Rajinder and Nina - singing a marital duet

Musical Mehtas is not a new party game. In fact, it is a highly successful husband and wife team who have recently released an LP of ghazals called Kaifi Azmi's Nazrana. Rajinder, 40, and his wife Nina, 34, hardly conform to the traditional image of ghazal singers. Rajinder, in natty grey flannels and blue blazer could easily pass for a hard selling marketing executive, which, incidentally, he was till last year. "We are now in a position where we can demand our price," said Rajinder. Having given most of their performances in foreign climes, the Mehtas are now trying to break into the lucrative motion picture industry. Rajinder has already sung playback for two films, Shaheed and Parinay, and is confident that luck is on his side. "They accept us now, and that's important," he said. "But you know what promises are. They may materialize today or after a year."

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